The Home Office and Home Secretary have designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps under UK state-threat powers from 17 July 2026. The three organisations are the first bodies added to the new statutory designation list.
The designations took effect after Parliament approved regulations laid by the Home Secretary on 13 July. The measures apply across the United Kingdom and create criminal offences covering specified forms of support, assistance and financial involvement.
Those convicted of the new offences can face up to 14 years in prison. Separate conduct undertaken for a designated body, including sabotage, may be prosecuted under other provisions of the National Security Act 2023 and can carry a life sentence.
Three Bodies Designated Under New Powers
The regulations designate three organisations assessed by the government as being connected to Iranian or Russian state activity. They have been inserted into Schedule 6A of the National Security Act 2023 as the first bodies covered by the new designation framework.
The order covers the IRGC, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right and the GRU Volunteer Corps. Alternative spellings may appear in other publications because names translated from Arabic and other languages do not follow a universal transliteration standard.
- Iranian state body: The IRGC is a branch of Iran’s armed forces and is accountable to the country’s Supreme Leader.
- Iran-linked movement: IMCR has claimed attacks against Jewish, Israeli and Persian-language targets in Europe.
- Russian proxy network: The GRU Volunteer Corps is assessed as supporting Russian military intelligence objectives.
Designated Bodies
| Body | Affiliation | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| IRGC | Iranian state | July 2026 |
| IMCR | Iran-linked network | July 2026 |
| GRU Volunteer Corps | Russian intelligence network | July 2026 |
Criminal Offences and Penalties Introduced
It is now a criminal offence to express support for a designated body where that support glorifies or encourages activity threatening the safety of the UK. The provisions also cover assisting a listed organisation or accepting or obtaining a material benefit, including payment, from it.
A person convicted of these offences can receive a prison sentence of up to 14 years. The designation provisions operate alongside existing national security offences that may apply when individuals undertake hostile acts on behalf of one of the organisations.
- expressing support in a manner prohibited by the legislation: Glorifying or encouraging threatening activity by a designated body can lead to prosecution.
- Providing assistance: Helping one of the listed organisations is covered by the new offences.
- Material benefits: Receiving payment or another material advantage from a designated body is prohibited.
Offences and Maximum Penalties
| Conduct | Legal Route | Maximum Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited support | Designation offence | 14 years |
| Assistance or payment | Designation offence | 14 years |
| Sabotage | National security offence | Life imprisonment |
National Security Act Designation Framework
The bodies were designated under section 33A of the National Security Act 2023. The National Security Act 2023 (Designated Bodies) Regulations 2026 created Schedule 6A and brought the designations into force on 17 July.
An explanatory memorandum provided Parliament with information about each organisation before the regulations were approved. The statutory list can be updated through the designation process when the relevant legal requirements are met.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
The IRGC is an integral part of the Iranian state and operates independently from Iran’s regular army. Its activities extend across military, security, intelligence, economic and foreign policy matters, with its overarching aims set by Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Its six principal branches include ground, naval and aerospace forces, the Qods Force, the Intelligence Organisation and the Basij. The government states that the Qods Force conducts foreign military operations and maintains covert intelligence networks outside Iran.
Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right
IMCR, also known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah, first appeared online on 9 March 2026. Its initial public statement followed an explosion outside the Synagogue of Liège in Belgium.
The movement has since claimed attacks and attempted attacks against Jewish and Israeli interests across Europe. These include seven claimed incidents at UK locations, including the arson attack on four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March.
The government assesses that members of the IRGC Qods Force were behind the organisation and almost certainly directed its attacks across Europe. The designation therefore addresses both the named movement and the state-linked activity associated with it.
GRU Volunteer Corps
The GRU Volunteer Corps is assessed as part of a network of volunteer and proxy formations directed and controlled by Russia’s military intelligence service. The organisation provides a structure through which personnel can be recruited, organised and deployed in support of Russian objectives.
The government states that the wider network combines Russian state capabilities with volunteer and proxy formations. It includes elements previously associated with Wagner Group and operates in support of military and intelligence priorities.
UK Security and Enforcement Implications
The designations give law enforcement agencies a statutory basis for investigating specified relationships with the three organisations. Prosecutors can consider support, assistance and material benefits alongside any separate conduct that may constitute another national security offence.
The measures do not replace existing provisions covering hostile activity. Conduct such as sabotage can continue to be prosecuted under the wider National Security Act framework where the evidence supports those charges.
The three designations bring the first organisations within the UK’s new state-threat body framework. From 17 July 2026, prohibited support, assistance and material relationships involving the IRGC, IMCR or GRU Volunteer Corps can result in prosecution. The regulations also operate alongside existing national security offences, allowing separate action against sabotage and other hostile conduct undertaken for designated organisations.
Sources: Home Office.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
